HealthAugust 17, 2026
antimony
AN-tih-moh-nee
Definition
A brittle, silvery-white chemical element often found in trace amounts in the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic used for disposable water bottles.
Etymology
Derived from the Medieval Latin 'antimonium,' the word's origins are obscure, possibly stemming from Greek or Arabic terms for metallurgical compounds used in ancient times.
In the news
The article mentions antimony as a potentially toxic substance that can leach from plastic bottles when they are heated, though it notes that levels usually remain well within safe drinking limits.
This is what's actually in your bottled water after its been left in a hot car for a day
Read the full article ↗BBC Science Focus Magazine